13 November 2014

Yes that's right, here is the Ojai insiders guide you've been asking for. At least once a month I get an email from a friend or blog reader asking where to stay and what to do in Ojai. Their seems to be a new guide or article written about Ojai weekly and I can't say my guide is any different. It is however more extensive than most and written by someone who grew up there.

Ojai has changed quite a bit since I was a child. Growing up it was a hippie town, where you knew practically everyones name and could leave your car door unlocked. A place that drew all sorts of creative and spiritual types. I guess none of that has changed exactly, but It got a little more conservative somewhere in there and now I think it is having a little bohemian resurgence. Young people are realizing what a wonderful oasis it is less than two hours from Los Angeles and therefor it's becoming, dare I say, hip. Not to get ahead of myself here. It still has a ways to go. Well known actors and musicians are moving here to get away from the city life and it seems to be "the" place to get married these days.

I feel really lucky to have been raised in such a sweet town. I also feel lucky that my parents still call this place home and I get to spend holidays here and visit whenever I like. People ask me if I mind that it is getting more and more popular, but truthfully I am glad. With popularity comes cuter shops and better restaurants. Here are some of my favorites below.

23 October 2014

Last month I got to spend a weekend with Refinery29 for Secret Deodorant's Epic48, in my beautiful city Los Angeles. I road my bike to the farmer's market, picked up plants from my favorite plant store, had friends over for dinner in my backyard, went up to the Griffith Observatory and ended it all by watching the sunset at the beach. Of course we had a crazy heatwave that weekend with temps somewhere around 105. Not ideal or very fall-like, but we made the best of it.

15 April 2014

1. La Femme // It's Time To Wake Up2. Misun // Travel With Me3. Little Dragon // Klapp Klapp4. Future Islands // Light House5. Mr. Little Jeans // Good Mistake 6. Lana Del Rey // West Coast7. Meshell Ndegeocello // Oysters8. James Vincent McMorrow // Gold9. Lykke Li // Love Me Like I'm Not Made Of Stone10. On an On // Every Song11. Flume & Chet Faker // Drop the Game12. Big Data // Dangerous13. RAC & Katie Herzig // We Belong
{listen on spotify or 8tracks}I have a new mix for you. This is a fun one. It makes me want to do some major car dancing. Had to throw in a few mellow songs as well to even it out. I hope you enjoy!

05 February 2014

1. Beachwood Sparks // Forget This Song2. Jake Bugg // Me And You3. Father John Misty // O I Long To Feel Your Arms Around Me4. Dan Auerbach // When The Night Comes5. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss // Killing The Blues6. Bon Iver // Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)7. Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros // Man on Fire8. My Morning Jacket // Wonderful9. Kings of Leon // Last Mile Home (acoustic)10. The Envy Corp // The Cursing Choir11. First Aid Kit // Emmylou12. The Fleet Foxes // Lorelai13. Dr Dog // Distant Light14. Daniel Rossen // Silent Song15. Matt Costa // Ophelia16. Nick Drake // Pink Moon17. Sharon Van Etten // All I Can18. The Tallest Man on Earth // To Just Grow Away19. Jim James // A New Life20. Phosphorescent // Ride On/Right On{listen on spotify or 8tracks}If you've listened to my mixes, you know I am a big fan of indie rock and indie electro, but deep down my favorite music tends to have a folky sound. It's the kind of music you sing around the campfire, it's the kind of music that is part of our history and makes us feel connected. I put together a mix of some of my favorite modern folk(y) music for you. It's a long one, I hope you enjoy!

01 January 2014

To celebrate the New Year and Snap Class!Kim and I are giving away 1 spot to our LA Snap Class! on January 11th to one lucky Sweet Thing reader. We will be teaching all kinds of photography techniques and post processing tricks. All you have to do is sign up below. You can even get extra entires for tweeting about it and following us on all of our social media channels. A winner will be chosen at random and announced here on Sweet Thing on January 8th 10am PST. For more info on Snap Class! check out our website here. *$375 Value (travel & hotel not included) Snap Class! will be held in Los Angeles on January 11th 9am-5pm. One winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday January 8th at 10AM PST. The winner will be announced on Sweet Thing